Confucius Temple in Qufu

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Located in Qufu, Shandong Province, Confucius Temple was the place where worshipping ceremony for Confucius was held in ancient China. Grand architectural layout is also compact. It is such ancient building cluster only second to the Forbidden City in China. It has high status, long history and rich culture content, which is a well-known scenic spot. The existing Confucius Temple covers 144 mu. Nine courtyards go throughout the north-south axis, with symmetrical layout. Building cluster falls into three parts. Middle part is the main part dedicated to worshipping Confucius and other Confucian sages (including the most well-known Dacheng Hall). East and west parts are dedicated to ancestors and parents of Confucius, which is also used for preaching and dancing. Kitchen, cooking room and other auxiliary buildings are also located here. In the Confucius Temple, the majority of existing buildings were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. But a small number of buildings of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties still retain.

Ten dragon stone columns under front eave of Dacheng Hall are 6.1 meters high with diameter of 0.85 meter. Every stone column sees high-relief carving of vivid dragon and pearl in the middle (two dragons play with pearl). Column body is covered with cloud and f ame. Column foot is dotted with mountain rock under the backdrop of sea waves. Column foundation is in the shape of downward-overlying lotus.

Dacheng Hall was initially built in the Song Dynasty , which was rebuilt in Yongzheng Period of the Qing Dynasty. Based on two-layer white marble pedestal, it has horizontal width of 9 rooms and width of 45.7 meters. Overlapping-eave Hip Roof is surrounded by corridor. Under the eave, 28 stone columns are carved with dragon pattern. The roof is covered with yellow glazed tile only for royal fam ily. The gazebo in front of Dacheng Hall is 2 meters high, surrounded by two-layer stone railing. Dacheng Hall features grand shape, brilliant decoration, imposing charm and awful posture.

Confucius

In the Chinese History, Confucius was a great educator, thinker and politician. During the Spring and Autumn Period, he was a native of Lu Kingdom [in today’s Shandong). He compiled the first poetry collection Book of Odes and the first chronicle history book the Spring and Autumn Annals . The Analects of Confucius is the Confucian classics recording speeches in his lifetime. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucian ideology ruled China for over 2000 years. Confucius’s words, ideas and accomplishments were respected by rulers of successive dynasties, which were admired by scholars.

Construction of Confucius Temple

After the death of Confucius, King Aigong of Lu Kingdom worshipped him in three grass-covered houses of Confucius. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Confucius Temple was officially built in Qufu. In the Tang Dynasty, Confucius was conferred with the title “Holy Sage and Great Teacher with Great Achievement as King Wenxuan”. In the following millennium, Confucius was apotheosized by rulers of successive dynasties. Worshipping ceremony for Confucius became the required national ceremony. And construction and expansion of Confucius Temple were continuously launched. North layout of Dacheng Gate of Confucius Temple was fixed in the 2nd year of Tianxi Period under the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1018).